If I was younger, fitter and better at football, I'd absolutely want to be a lock forward.
They work hard, they get busted up, and they ball play. It's the ultimate position, if you ask me.
We are blessed in 2024 by a list of elite lock forwards. It was tough to condense this into just ten and from there it was incredibly difficult to rank them.
If you're looking for Max Plath, check again in a few days' time. His being able to cover hooker ultimately cost him a spot here (more later).
Again, this list is based purely on 2024 efforts. Thus Big Tino won't feature, despite being an obvious top ten lock (when selected there) in the game.
Below are the top 10 locks from the 2024 season:
Bet you didn't think you'd be seeing Dylan Walker's name on the list ... but his efforts more than warrrant selection.
The 30 year-old had a career revival, slotting in at lock due to the long-term absence of Tohu Harris.
In his 19 games, 13 of which saw him start at lock, he crossed for a try, broke 28 tackles, ran for over 130 metres per game and tackled at 93%.
The Warriors endured a horror season, but Walker can be happy with his personal efforts.
I love Victor Radley as a player. So much so that I'm going to ignore the fact he played a whole lot of second-row and name him here.
Radley's game is one of a lock, although I'd argue his ability to play out wide has made him an even better player. A more complete player.
23 games saw him score seven times, break 32 tackles, produce six offloads, run for 110 metres per game and tackle at almost 91%.
Radley also cut a lot of the nonsense out of his game this season. Largely...
To say Cameron McInnes had a huge season is putting it midly.
McInnes literally bled for the Sharks, almost weekly. He set tackling records, he ran out at halfback at times. I'm convinced this bloke would live on the field if he could.
In 26 games, he scored twice, ran for 110 metres per game, and made a million tackles at almost 97%.
Every team needs a Cameron McInnes.
Bold statement time! Adam Elliott is the most under rated and under appreciated player on this list.
Although the attention and wraps will fall to the likes of Ponga and Best, Elliott turns up every week, puts in a huge shift and goes about it with zero fuss.
23 games saw him score four tries, break 36 tackles, produce 13 offloads, run for just under 100 metres per game and tackle at almost 94%.
I cannot believe there were talks earlier in the year that Elliott may be on the move. That would be madness from the Knights.
A second Rabbitohs lock here may seem strange, but much like his aforementioned teammate, Murray played his best footy this year in the middle.
He only ran out 14 times this year for Souths, but in each of those games, he was an absolute giant!
Those 14 games saw him score twice, break 24 tackles, produce 13 offloads, run for over 120 metres per game and tackle at almost 95%.
Murray is the heart and soul of the Bunnies and they missed him in a massive way during his stints away this year.
Yet another in the long, long list of "no name" players turned into rep quality stars under Craig Bellamy.
The 23-year-old continues to get better and better, enjoying a career-best year in 2024.
Across 26 games he ran for 123 metres per game, tackled at over 95%, had 12 offloads and broke 53 tackles.
If he continues to track as he has started his career ... watch out!
Koloamatangi played across the lock, prop and second row positions in 2024 but for mine he was, by far, his best whilst in the middle.
His 24 games saw him cross for four tries, run for over 155 metres per game, tackle at just under 94%, produce 16 offloads and break 68 tackles.
I felt he was hard done by to lose his Origin jersey, although I do believe Souths awful form had a lot to do with that.
Wayne Bennett must find a way to get the best out of both his weapon middle forwards in 2025. Koloamatangi proved in 2024 that he simply has to be there.
The Cowboys lock has been brilliant for the past two and a bit seasons but became an absolute monster in 2024.
His 23 games saw him cross for four tries, break 42 tackles, produce 10 offloads, run for 99 metres per game and tackle at over 94%.
His efforts for club, state and country cannot be understated. He almost turned the Final against the Sharks in the Cowboys favour on his own back.
The 25-year-old is set to be a rep player for many years to come. Cowboys fans were stoked to hear him extend his contract to the end of 2028.
In a truly awful season for the Broncos, one man can hold his head high and truthfully say he put it on all the line: Pat Carrigan.
The Brisbane and QLD superstar put in a monster shift in 2024 while others around him ... well, didn't.
His 22 games saw him cross for two tries, break 32 tackles, produce 29 offloads, run for 170 metres per game and tackle at almost 94%.
Carrigan did more than enough to bag the Lock of the Year award if not for one man.
Truthfully the top two or three usually stand out on these lists but for the locks, it was Yeo and then the rest. He's that good!
He was absolutely magnificent for club, state and country during 2025 and was the easiest selection for the Dally M Team of the Year.
25 games for Penrith bagged him two tries, 74 tackle breaks, 29 offloads, 165 run metres per game and a tackle efficiency of 98%.
Yeo is the ultimate modern-day lock, and at only 29 years of age, I can't see anyone topping him for a long time to come.